The Story Behind the Spyderco ARK

The ARK or "Always Ready Knife" is a purpose-designed personal-defense knife conceived by U.S. Army combat veteran John Shirley and his friend Sam Owens. While deployed to Afghanistan, Shirley learned that an alarming number of U.S. personnel were falling victim to sexual assault, particularly while showering. Drawing from his knowledge of the Japanese martial arts and with the help of Owens' skills as a craftsman, they developed the ARK as a lightweight self-defense tool that can literally be carried anywhere.

For those of you who would like to purchase a Spyderco ARK and donate it to a deploying U.S. service member, you may do so below. We will send it directly to the service member selected by the designer, John Shirley. Thank you for your contribution.

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I would like to donate a Spyderco ARK to a deploying U.S. service member and it will be sent directly to the service member selected by the designer, John Shirley.